And in the meanwhile there came into the country Sir Percivale de Galis
to seek Sir Tristram. And when he heard that Sir Tristram was in
prison, Sir Percivale made clearly the deliverance of Sir Tristram by
his knightly means. And when he was so delivered he made great joy of
Sir Percivale, and so each one of other. Sir Tristram said unto Sir
Percivale: An ye will abide in these marches I will ride with you. Nay,
said Percivale, in this country I may not tarry, for I must needs into
Wales. So Sir Percivale departed from Sir Tristram, and rode straight
unto King Mark, and told him how he had delivered Sir Tristram; and
also he told the king that he had done himself great shame for to put
Sir Tristram in prison, for he is now the knight of most renown in this
world living. And wit thou well the noblest knights of the world love
Sir Tristram, and if he will make war upon you ye may not abide it.
That is truth, said King Mark, but I may not love Sir Tristram because
he loveth my queen and my wife, La Beale Isoud. Ah, fie for shame, said
Sir Percivale, say ye never so more. Are ye not uncle unto Sir
Tristram, and he your nephew? Ye should never think that so noble a
knight as Sir Tristram is, that he would do himself so great a villainy
to hold his uncle’s wife; howbeit, said Sir Percivale, he may love your
queen sinless, because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the
world.
Then Sir Percivale departed from King Mark. So when he was departed
King Mark bethought him of more treason: notwithstanding King Mark
granted Sir Percivale never by no manner of means to hurt Sir Tristram.
So anon King Mark sent unto Sir Dinas the Seneschal that he should put
down all the people that he had raised, for he sent him an oath that he
would go himself unto the Pope of Rome to war upon the miscreants; and
this is a fairer war than thus to arise the people against your king.
When Sir Dinas understood that King Mark would go upon the miscreants,
then Sir Dinas in all the haste put down all the people; and when the
people were departed every man to his home, then King Mark espied where
was Sir Tristram with La Beale Isoud; and there by treason King Mark
let take him and put him in prison, contrary to his promise that he
made unto Sir Percivale.
When Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was in prison she made as
great sorrow as ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then Sir Tristram sent a
letter unto La Beale Isoud, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if
it pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, he would go with
her unto the realm of Logris, that is this land. When La Beale Isoud
understood Sir Tristram’s letters and his intent, she sent him another,
and bade him be of good comfort, for she would do make the vessel
ready, and all thing to purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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